Spinning apparatus



Mal'ch 1952 R. H. ROUGHSEDGE ET AL 2,587,768

SPINNING APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ROBERT H. ROUGHSEDGE.

v BY HANS G LES TIG.

INVENTORS ROBERT H. ROUGHSEDGE.

5 Sheets-Sheet g F' IGQ5.

SPINNING APPARATUS SPINNING PUMP MOTOR R'. H. ROUGHSEDGE ET AL MOTOR STARTER March 4 Filed July 13, 1948 B HANS G LUSTIG March 1952 R. H- ROUGHSEDGE ET AL SPINNING APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 SPINNING APPARATUS Robert H. Roughsedge, Ramsey, N. J and Hans G. Lustig, New York, N. Y., assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application July 13, 1948, Serial No. 38,516

20 Claims.

This invention relates to spinning apparatus, and relates more particularly to novel spinnin apparatus including means for protecting and wiping a spinning jet- In the production of filaments by the so-called dry-spinning process, a solution of filamentforming material in a volatile solvent is pumped or otherwise forced through a spinning jet located in a spinning cabinet or metier. As the filaments pass through the metier, the solvent is removed from said filaments by means of a suitable evaporative medium, and the filaments are then drawn from the metier to any suitable filament take-up apparatus. If the flow of filamentforming solution through thespinning jet is interrupted, by failure of power to the spinning pumps or for any other reason, the fine orifices in the spinning jet are likely to become clogged since the evaporative medium in the metier will cause the evaporation of the solvent from whatever filament-forming solution remainsin the jet. This clogging usually makes it necessary to dismantle and clean the spinning jet before spinning can be resumed.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel and simple apparatus which will protect the spinning jet and prevent clogging of the jet orifices when the flow of filament-forming material is interrupted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple apparatus which will seal. the spinning jet from the medium inside the metier and supply a fiow of liquid over the jet, when the fiow vof filament-forming material is interrupted. v

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simple apparatus which will wipe the spinning jet thereby removing any solid materials which may have accumulated on the surface thereof.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will appear from the following detailed description andclaims.

One preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the jet protector applied to a metier including two spinning jets,

Figure 2 is a bottom view, looking upwardly and partly in section of the jet protector,

Figure 3 is a plan view ofthe jetprotector,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the actuating mechanism for the jet protector taken on the line 44 of Figure 2and Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the control system for the jet protector.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of this invention, there is shown a spinning cabinet or metier, generally indicated by reference numeral I, containing two spirming uits 2. Each of the spinning units 2 includes a spinning jet 3 provided with any desired number of fine orifices through which filament-forming material is forced into a setting medium to form filaments. In accordance with this invention, protectors are provided for each of the jets 3. Since the jet protectors are substantially identical in construction, only one will be described in detail in the interest of brevity.

V The jet protector mechanism is mounted on wall 4 of the metier I on a level with the spinning jet 3 and includes suitably aligned bearing members I and 8 supported in a framework 9. The bearing members slidably support actuating shaft II extending through an opening I2 in the wall 4 and through a hole I3 in connecting block I4,

to which the shaft is adjustably fastened by means of set screw I6. Encircling the actuating shaft I I is a helical spring II, which is held compressed between the connecting block I4 and a washer I8 bearing against the framework 9. The other end of the connecting block I4 is adjustably fastened, as by means of set screw I9, to shaft 2I of an air cylinder, generally indicated by reference numeral 22. By introducing a supply of compressed gas into the air cylinder 22 through hose connection 23, the shaft 2I, the connecting block I4 and the actuating, shaft II will be forced against the helical spring I! to assume the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, and thereby actuate the jet protector as will be set forth below. Release of pressure from the air cylinder 22 will permit thehelical spring I! to expand, returning the actuating shaft II, the connecting block I4 and the shaft 2| to their original position.

The actuating shaft II carries a yoke 24 having a shaft 26 mounted between its arms, which shaft 26 passes through an elongated slot 28 in a crank arm 29. The crank arm 29, lever arm 3|, collar 32 and shaft 33 rotate as a unit and are mounted for free rotation and lateral motion in bearing plates 34 and 36, fastened to the wall 4. The shaft 33 and the assembly it supports may be positioned vertically by means of adjusting screw 31 and lock-nut 38 carried by the bearing plate 36.

Mounted at the free end of the lever arm 3| is a cup 39 having its edge 4| at an angle to its longitudinal axis for engagement with the edge 43 of the complementary cup 42 carried by the spinning unit 2. The two cups 39 and 42 together with gasket 44 mounted in the edge 43 will effectively seal the spinning jet 3 from the medium inside the metier 4, when the cups are aligned and the adjusting screw 31 is positioned to bring the edge 4| into contact with the gasket 44.

The cup 39 is provided with a centrally located aperture 45 through which wiper indexing shaft 46 passes and a liquid-tight seal isefiected between the cup 39 and the wiper indexing shaft 46 by means of gasket 41, held in position by liquid distributing plate 48. A pin 49 extending from the wiper indexing shaft 46 engages one of four apertures in wiper plate 52, which plate carries sponge-rubber wipers 53 in a generally U-shaped channel 54. The wiper plate 52 also includes a depending split shaft 56 for frictional engagement with hole 51 in the upper'end of wiper indexing shaft 46. In Figure 3 of the drawings, wiper plate 52 is omitted from the right-hand jet protector, to illustrate more clearly the structure of the liquid distributing plate 48. A passageway 59, having a hose coupling 6| and opening into the channel 63 in the liquid distributing plate 48 is provided to permit a liquid to be introduced into the cup 39. From the channel 63 the liquid may pass through apertures 64 in the liquid distributing plate 48, apertures 66 in the wiper plate 52, over the spinning jet 3 and over the sponge-rubber wipers 53 to passageways 61 in the outer circumference of the liquid plate 48. From the passageways 61 the liquid may then pass into circumferential channel 68, between the liquid distributing plate 48 and the cup 39, and from the channel 68 to passageway 69 provided with hose coupling 12. Flexible hoses 13 and 14 fastened to the couplings 6| and 12 to permit the liquid to be brought to and led from the cup 39.

The wiper indexing shaft 46 has fastened thereto as by means of set screw 16, ratchet wheel 11, provided with ratchet teeth 18. A shield 80 surrounds and protects the ratchet wheel 11 and is provided with a centrally located aperture through which a bolt 19, whose function will be set forth in detail below, passes for threaded engagement with the indexing shaft 46. In Figure 2 of the drawings the shield 80 is omitted from the right-hand jet protector to illustrate more clearly the ratchet construction. The ratchet wheel 11 is driven by means of a U-shaped driving member, generally indicated by the reference numeral 8|, having the end portions of both its upper arm 82 and its lower arm 83 enlarged and provided with apertures 84 and 86 respectively. The upper arm 82 passes through opening 81 in the shield 80 and has the aperture 84, positioned for free rotation about wiper indexing shaft 46. The lower arm 83 passes below the shield 80 and has the aperture 86 positioned for free rotation about the bolt 19. A fiat spiral spring 88, having one end fastened to the cup 39 and the other end fastened, by means of pin 89, to the ratchet driving member 8|, is tensioned to urge the ratchet driving member 8|, of the jet protector shown in the right half of Figures l and 2 of the drawings, in a clockwise direction. The rotation of the ratchet driving member BI is limited by stop 9|, which is adjustably fastened to the bearing plate 36 by means of set screw 92. The ratchet driving member 8| carries an operating pawl 93, having a catch 94 formed in one end thereof, and mounted on the cup 39 are the cooperating lock pawl 96 which engages the ratchet teeth 18 and spring catch 91 positioned to engage the catch 94 of the operating pawl 93. A bar 98, fastened to spacer 99 on the cup 42 carries bolt IOI held in position by lock nut I02, and positioned to pass through aperture I03 in the shield 80 and strike the spring catch 91.

During operation, as the actuating shaft II operated by the air cylinder 22 carries the lever arm 3| and the cup 39 to the position shown by the ,dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, the ratchet driving member 8| is rotated counterclockwise, torsioning the spring 88 and causing the spring catch 91 to engage the catch 94, thereby locking the ratchet driving member 8| in place. The rotation of the ratchet driving member also carries the operating pawl 93 counterclockwise to the next ratchet tooth 18, the ratchet being heldfrom counterclockwiserotation by means of the lock pawl 96. When the lever arm3| returns the cup 39 to its sealing position with the cup 42, the ratchet driving member 8| is heldstationary until the spring catch 91 is released by striking the end of the bolt IOI. Thereupon the torsion in the spring 88 rotates the ratchet driving member 8| clockwise, carrying with it the ratchet pawl 93 and the ratchet wheel 11, indexing the wiper plate 52 and thereby rotating the sponge-rubber wiper 53 until it presents a fresh surface'for contact with the face of the spinning jet 3 A-control circuit for the jet protector is shown in Figure 15' of the drawings as connected between spinning pump motor I06 and motor starter I01. Startingof the spinning pump motor I06 applies a voltage between terminals I08 and I09, so that closing of the normally open pusn-' button switch III permits a current to flow through holding coil H2 and through solenoid coil 'II3. After the -push-button switch III is released current continues to flow to the solenoid coil 1 I3 through switch II4, which is held closed by-the holding coil- H2. The solenoid coil II3 draws valve operating arm H6 to the left rotating air-valve II1 and liquid valve II8 to thespinning position shown in solid lines.

In the spinning position the air valve II1 permits a flow of compressed-air from any suitable source (not'shown) through air lines H9 and I2I to the air cylinder 22. Conversely, when the liquid valve H8 is in the spinning position it will prevent the flow of liquid from supply tank I22 through liquid line I23 to the cup 39. In the event that power to the spinning pump motor I06 is cut off, the fiow of current through the solenoid coil II3 will cease and the valve operating arm II6 will move the air valve Ill and liquid valve II8 to the protecting position shown in dotted lines. 'When the air valve III is in the protecting position it will shut off the flow of air through air line I9 and will permit the air cylinder 22 to exhaust the air it contains to the atmosphere. Incontrast, when the liquid valve H8 is in the protecting position it will permit a flow of liquid from the supply tank I22 through the liquid line I23 to the cup 39. The liquid head in the supply tank I22 necessary to insure an adequate liquid fiow may be readily obtained bypositioning the tank I22 above the cup '39 or by applying a suitable gas pressure to the free space above the liquid. A normally closed-push-button switch I24 in the line from the terminal I08 permits the flow of current through the solenoid coil H3 to be interrupted independently of the spinning pump motor I06 if desired. As an alternative the control circuit may be connected to a pressure operated switch in the supply line for the filament-forming solution, as well as to the power supply line as shown. Any number of jet protectors may be controlled by means of a single circuit, and the greatest flexibility of operation will be attained when a separate control circuit is provided for each spinning jet or for all the spinning jets in a single metier.

When spinning is to be initiated the spinning pump motor I06 is started by means of motor starter I9! and when the motor I06 is delivering full pressure upon the spinning jet 3, the pushbutton switch I I I is closed permitting a current to flow through the solenoid coil I I3 rotating the air valve II! and liquid valve II8 to the spinning position. This will cut off the flow of liquid from the supply tank I22 to the cup 39 and will apply air pressure to the air cylinder 22 moving the actuating shaft II against the compression of the helical spring I'I thereby rotating the crank arm 29 and the lever arm'3l to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawing. The lever arm 3| will carry the cup 39 from engagement with the cup 42 providing a free path for passage of filament-forming material from the spinning jet 3 through the metier l. The rotation of the lever arm 3| will also rotate the ratchet driving member 8I torsioning the spring 88 and engaging the spring catch 9! with the catch 94. Upon failure of power to the spinning pump motor I36, the flow of current through the solenoid coil II3 will cease and the air valve Ill and the liquid valve I I8 will be operated to their protecting positions by means of the valve operating arm I I6. Thereupon the air in the. air cylinder 22 will be exhausted into the atmosphere permitting the helical spring I! to expand, carrying with it the actuating shaft I I which will rotate the crank arm 29 and the lever arm 3| to the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 of the drawings thereby bringing the cup 39 into alignment with the cup 42 and sealing the spinning jet 3 from the medium inside the metier I. As the lever arm 3| brings the cup 39 into engagement with the cup 42 the bolt IOI will strike the spring catch 97 releasing the catch 94, permitting the torsion in the spring 88 to index the sponge-rubber wiper 53. Simultaneously with the release of air pressure from the air cylinder 22 a flow of liquid from the supply tank I22 will be established, by means of the liquid valve IIB, to the cup 39, overthe spinning jet 3 and over the sponge-rubber wiper 53. The protecting cups 39 and 42, plus the flow of liquid over the spinning jet 3 will prevent the evaporation of solvent from any residual filament-forming solution in the jet, thereby avoiding the clogging of the jet orifices. When spinning is resumed, the motion of the lever arm 3| as it moves the cup 39 from its protecting position Will pass the wet sponge-rubber wiper 53 over the spinning jet 3 removing any solid materials from the surface of the jet. After four cycles of operation the sponge-rubber wiper 53 must be replaced which may be readily accomplished by lifting the entire wiper plate 52 and substituting another plate in its stead.

The jet protector may also be employed to wipe the surface of the spinning jet 3 without interrupting the power to spinning pump motor I06 by opening the normally closed push-button 6 switch I24. This will interrupt the flow of cur rent to the solenoid coil I I3 and initiate the protecting cycle to remove any solid material which may have formed on the surface or in the orifices of the spinning jet 3 as the result of -a filament break or in any other manner.

The choice of a liquid for passage over the spinning jet 3 is not critical so long as it removes the filament-forming material from the surface of the jet. Acetone will function satisfactorily when the filament-forming solution includes a cellulose ester such as cellulose acetate, but other cellulose acetate solvents may be employed. After passage through the cup 39 the acetone may be purified in any manner desired and returned to the supply tank I22.

The jet protector of this invention is useful not only in the so-called dry-spinning process, but also in other spinning processes wherein a jet is employed. For example, it may be employed to protect a spinning jet in the melt-spinning process, wherein a melt of filament-forming material is forced through a spinning jet into a cooling atmosphere, or in the wet-spinning process wherein a solution of filament-forming material is forced through a spinning jet into a precipitation or coagulation bath.

Any suitable materials may be employed for the construction of the jet protector illustrated, and the layout and structure of the jet protector may be varied to adapt it to the metier construction. Other actuating means such as a solenoid may be substituted for the air actuating means shown, although the air actuating means is ehpecially effective and inexpensive.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is'given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material-is passed through a hardening medium, a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and having one surface exposed to. the hardening medium, pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet and into the hardening medium, and means relatively movable with respect to the spinning jet for sealing the exposed surface of said spinning jet from the hardening medium in said spinning apparatus, said latter means being carried by said spinning apparatus and normally out of contact with the exposed surface of said spinning jet.

2. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passedthrough a hardening medium, a spinning jet having a least one spinning orifice, pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, means relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet for sealing said spinning jet from the medium in said spinning apparatus, and

' means for supplying a flow of liquid over said spinning jet when said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus.

3. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice, pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, means relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet for sealing said spinning jet from the medium in said spinning apparatus;

means for supplying a fiow of liquid over said spinning jet when said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus, a wiping material and means for passing the wiping material over said spinn ng jet to remove any material from the surface of said spinning jet.

4. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and having one surface exposed to the hardening medium, pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet and into the hardening medium, and means automatically operative upon failure of said pressure means and relatively movable with respect to the spinning jet for sealing the exposed surface of said spinning jet from the hardening medium in said spinning apparatus, said latter means being carried by said spinning apparatus and normally out of contact with the exposed surface of said spinning jet.

5. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means in said spinning apparatus operative upon failure of said pressure means, and relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet, for sealing said spinning jet from the medium in said spinning apparatus, and means for supplying a fiow of liquid over said spinning jet when said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus.

6. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means in said spinning apparatus, operative upon failure of said pressure means, and relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet, for sealing said spinning jet from the medium in said spinning apparatus, and mean operable upon restoration of pressure in said pressure means for moving said sealing means with respect to said spinning jet to expose said spinning jet to the medium in said spinning apparatus.

'7. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means in said spinning apparatus, operative upon failure of said pressure means, and relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet, for sealing said spinning jet from the medium in said spinning apparatus, means operable upon restoration of pressure in said pressure means for moving said sealing mean with respect to said spinning jet to expose said spinning jet to the medium in said spinning apparatus and means for supplying a flow of liquid over said spinning jet when said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus.

8. In afilament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcinga filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means in said spinning apparatus, operative upon failure of said pressure means, and relatively movable with respcetto said spinning jet, for sealing said spinning jet from the medium in said spinning apparatus, a wiping material and means operable upon restoration of pressure in said pressure means for passing the wiping material over said spinning jet and for'moving said sealing means with respect to said spinning jet to expose said spinning jet to the medium in said spinning apparatus.

9. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed througha hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means in said spinning apparatus, operative upon failure of said pressure means, and relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet, for sealing said spinning jet from the medium in said spinning apparatus, means for supplying a flow of liquid over said spinning jet when said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus, a wiping ma-- terial and means operable upon restoration of pressure in said pressure means to pass the wiping material over said spinning jet and for moving said sealing means with respect to said spinning jet to expose said spinning jet to the medium in said spinning apparatus.

10. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and'having one surface exposed to the hardening medium, pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, a wiping material, and means in said spinning apparatus, normally out of contact with said spinning jet, relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet for passing the wiping material over the exposed surface of said spinning jet.

11. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and. having one surface exposed to the hardening medium, pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, a wiping material, means for supplying a fiow of liquid over said spinning jet and means in said spinning apparatus relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet for passing the wiping material over the exposed surface of said spinning jet.

12. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises a Wiping material, means in said spinning apparatus relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet for passing the wiping material over said spinning jet and means for moving said wiping material to present a fresh surface to said spinning jet after each pass thereof over said spinning jet.

13. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means surrounding said spinning jet and having an opening through which said filament-forming material may pass and means, normally out of contact with said spinning jet, relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet for closing said opening, whereby said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus.

14. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means surrounding said spinning jet and having an opening through which said filament-forming material may pass, means relatively movable with respect to said spinning jet for closing said opening, whereby said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus and means for supplying a flow of liquid over said spinning jet when said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus.

In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means surrounding said spinning jet and having an opening through which said filament-forming material may pass, means, normally out of contact with said spinning jet, for closing said opening, whereby said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus, and wiping means carried by said clos- I ing means for wiping the surface of said spinning jet.

16. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means surrounding said spinning jet and having an opening through which said filament-forming material may pass, cupshaped means for closing said opening whereby said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus, and means for supplying a flow of liquid to said cup-shaped means and over said spinning jet when said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus.

17. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means surrounding said spinning jet and having an opening through which said filament-forming material may pass, cupshaped means, normally out of contact with said spinning jet, for closing said opening whereby said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus, and wiping means carried by said cup-shaped means for wiping the surface of said spinning jet.

18. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means surrounding said spinning jet and having an opening through which said filament-forming material may pass, cupshaped means for closing said opening whereby said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus, wiping means carried by said. cup-shaped means for wiping the surface of said spinning jet, and means for moving said wiping means to present a fresh surface to said spinning jet after each pass thereof over said spinning jet.

19. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises means surrounding said spinning jet and having an opening through which said filament-forming material may pass, cupshaped means for closing said opening whereby said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus, wiping means carried by said cup-shaped means for wiping the surface of said spinning jet, means for moving said wiping means to present a fresh surface to said spinning jet after each pass thereof over said spinning jet, and means for supplying a flow of liquid to said cup-shaped means and over said spinning jet and said wiping means when said spinning jet is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus.

20. In a filament spinning apparatus wherein a filament-forming material is passed through a hardening medium, including a spinning jet having at least one spinning orifice and pressure means for forcing a filament-forming material through said spinning jet, the improvement which comprises annular means surrounding said spinnig jet and having an opening through E which said filament-forming material may pass,

cup-shaped means mounted on a lever arm for motion to close said opening and seal said spinning jet from the medium in said spinning apparatus, actuating means operative upon failure of said pressure means to move said lever arm and cup-shaped means to sealing position, means operable upon restoration of said pressure means to move said lever arm and cup-shaped means out of sealing position, wiper means carried by said cup-shaped means for wiping said spinning jet as said lever arm and cup-shaped means are moved out of sealing position, ratchet means actuated by the motion of said lever arm and cupshaped means for moving said wiper means to present a fresh surface to said spinning jet after each pass thereof over said spinning jet, and means for supplying a flow of liquid to said cupshaped means and over said spinning jet and said wiper means when said spinning jet it is sealed from the medium in said spinning apparatus.

ROBERT H. ROUGHSEDGE. HANS G. LUSTIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,361,709 Roelen Oct. 31, 1944 2,443,200 Slaughter June 15, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 216,391 Germany Feb. 6, 1909 221,572 Germany June 30, 1909 

